An
essay question asks you to combine information drawn from several
different sources, arrange that information in an unfamiliar pattern,
and draw conclusions.

How Instructors Grade Essay Exams

When professors evaluate your essays, they not only test your
command of the facts, but also your analytical, organizational,
and essay-writing skills.

In an essay, you must do much more than simply
regurgitate information offered in a lecture. You need to demonstrate
your capacity to apply the knowledge to a specific question.
You need to present a clear and compelling argument and a structure
that flows logically. In short, you are graded both on substance
and style.

Substance

Does the essay adequately cover the issues
raised in the question?

Does the essay thoroughly define key terms
and concepts?

Is the thesis too general? Is it appropriate
to the complexity of the material?

Is the essay's argument logical?

Does the essay include specific references
to the readings and lectures?

Style

Does the essay respond directly to the question?

Does the essay adequately document its arguments?

Is the essay well-organized?

Are quotations thoroughly analyzed?

Are the paragraphs and sentences well-constructed?

Watch for Key Words

Most essay questions contain a specific instruction or “prompt”
that you are to respond to:

Compare:
You are to emphasize similarities, although differences may
be mentioned.

Contrast:
You are to stress dissimilarities, differences, or unlikeness
of things, qualities, events, or problems.

Criticize:
Discuss the limitations and good points or contributions of
the work in question.

Define:
Definitions call for concise, clear, authoritative meanings.

Describe:
Recount, characterize, sketch or relate in narrative form.

Discuss:
Examine, analyze carefully, and present considerations pro
and con regarding the problems or items involved. This type
of question calls for a complete and detailed answer.

Enumerate:
In such questions you should recount, one by one, in concise
form, the points required.

Evaluate:
Carefully appraise a problem stressing both advantages and
limitations. Evaluation implies authoritative and, to a lesser
degree, personal appraisal of both contributions and limitations.

Explain:
Clarify, elucidate, and interpret the material you present.
In such an answer it is best to state the "how or why,"
reconcile any differences in opinion, and, where possible,
state causes.

Identify:Thoroughly
describe or define a specific person, event, or concept, and
state its significance.

Illustrate:
Explain or clarify your answer to the problem by presenting
a concrete example.

Justify:
Provide the grounds for your point of view. Present your evidence
in a convincing form.

Outline:
An outline answer is organized description. Give the main
points and essential supplementary materials, omitting minor
details, and present the information in a systematic arrangement.

Summarize:
Give in condensed form the main points or facts.

Trace:
Describe a historical sequence, or development from the point
of origin.